THE MARINER APPROACHES!

Hey there, fantasy-fiends! I’m thrilled to announce that my latest short story, The Mariner, is going to drop anchor soon, with the release date set for September 2025 (yep, that's next month!). And what's it about…?

In the archipelago of Paeri, a young sailor named Kama leads a double-life. A crewman aboard a trading vessel, he also trains to become an island champion, or 'Ayuku'.

This is a life of hard work, discipline, and duty, and one which is meant to prepare him—like all such champions—to defeat a legendary threat.

All islanders in Paeri know of the Sea-Bane, a monstrous creature which awakens every 90 years and which has laid waste to entire islands in the past. And the 90 year cycle is almost at an end…

Can Kama rise to the occasion?

I’ve always been fascinated with the adventurous spirit of traders, merchants, and explorers throughout history—those intrepid characters from every culture and country who broaden horizons and create stories that ignite the human imagination. And here, I hope to contribute a yarn of my own.

Written with Greek epics and historical voyages in mind, The Mariner tells a story of self-discovery, courage and magick, which I think will strike a chord with anyone who finds the maritime world of old as intriguing as I do.

This story is also going to become yet another entry in my fabtabulous SHORT STORY LIBRARY – a freshly-minted repository of bite-sized fantasy-adventure. If you’re after a little escapism with an exotic twist, the Short Story Library is for you! And more excitingly still; these little stories come with FREE audibook versions! How cool is that! Just head to a story and click ‘DOWNLOAD AUDIOBOOK’ and you can listen to your little heart’s content!

New short stories and free audiobooks are arriving there all the time, so stay tuned, and I hope you enjoy.

Jim :)